How Can We Live So Christ Is Glorified because of Us?
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Galatians is called Paul’s “angry letter.” In it he addresses some false beliefs and practices embraced by the Galatian churches (Galatia was located in what is now modern-day Turkey). Paul started his letter by admonishing the churches for “turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6). He knew there were some who perverted the gospel of Christ, and anyone (including the Apostles or even angels) who tried such a tactic would be accursed (Galatians 1:9). He then said we are to please God and not men, because for the Galatian churches to veer from the truth of the gospel would indeed be to please men!
Paul had not only persecuted the church of Jesus Christ; he tried to destroy it before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Jesus called him to Apostleship, which was all the credibility Paul needed, for he wasn’t called by a man, but by the Lord (Galatians 1:13-17). Paul’s testimony is a good transition in chapter one, because readers then (and today) can see what he was versus what he became. God called a destroyer and changed him into a builder. It is through his testimony of how his life changed that we arrive at the last few sentences in the first chapter of Galatians.
In verses 18-22, Paul spoke of being in Damascus for three years, then traveling to Jerusalem to be with Peter for fifteen days (seeing none of the other apostles except James, Jesus’ brother). Afterward he went to Syria and Cilicia, and he made mention of being known to the churches of Judea only by what they heard of his former life. He finishes chapter one with these words, “But they were hearing only [these words], ‘He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.’ And they glorified God in me.” The ESV renders it, “And they glorified God because of me.”
God used Paul’s strong witness as a means for the Galatians to see how one such as he had been could bring glory to the Lord by who he was after his conversion.
Why Did Paul Write This Letter?
The letter to the Galatians refuted the Judaizing false teachers who attempted to challenge the doctrine of justification by faith (Romans 3:28). These false teachers expressed a mandate for the Gentile believers to yield to the Mosaic law before they could become Christians. Paul was indeed stunned by the Galatian churches’ openness to the heretical commands of the false teachers.
The overall purpose of the book of Galatians was to defend justification by faith and to caution the churches of the awful consequences should they not heed his words. They were not to abandon that essential doctrine. The book of Galatians holds no praise for the churches there, such was Paul’s determination to confront their wrong thinking and defend the correct doctrine.
What Does it Mean for God to Be Glorified because of Us?
In his admonishment to the Galatian churches, Paul directs them first to the truth, and then to his testimony. Both bring authority to his position as an Apostle of Christ and to how God was glorified because of Paul.
When Paul spoke of his history, he underscored the change in him due to Christ, and he defended the teaching with which he was entrusted. As Paul explained his changed heart, he directed the focus to the gospel of Christ and that he received it as a “revelation from Christ” (Galatians 1:12).
Paul said he was a servant of Christ. And what does a servant do but devote himself to his master? Our lives are to be a testimony of God’s salvific and sanctifying work in us (Philippians 2:13). We are—if you will—living parchments upon which His words are etched for all to see. Everything we think, say, and do reflect who we are in Christ. Thanks be to God; He allows us to bring Him glory because of the change He wrought in us.
In the disciples’ prayer, Jesus said, “Hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9). To hallow God means to make Him holy not only in our hearts and minds, but in all our actions so others may see and glorify Him.
How Can We Live so God Is Glorified because of Us?
The key for us as believers is to be the people God created us to be! No longer are we to be conformed to the norms of the world, but we are to be transformed, living a life pleasing to Him who called us (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:4, 4:1). I’ve saved Hebrews 11:6 for the dénouement of this paragraph. It reads, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Our first act of obedience is to have faith in Him so we may please Him by bringing glory to Him.
It's good to look at key verses from each chapter in Galatians to see how Paul progresses.
Galatians 2:20 is one with which we are familiar. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Because of Christ in us, He can be glorified by His works in and through us (cf. Isaiah 26:12b; John 17:22-23).
Galatians 3:26 reads, “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” What child does not long to emulate a good father? And we, as believers, have a perfect heavenly Father who gives us all we need to live a life of godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Our progression then is to supplement our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness (as stated in verse 3), brotherly affection, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7). A watching world will not miss these qualities as we openly display them, because – as 2 Peter 1:8 continues – “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 4:19 says, “my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!” We too should be in anguish over our beloved ones who are lost and in darkness (John 1:5, 3:19, 12:46). We are image bearers of Christ – His representatives – and, as such, we carry light into the world. The darkness of the world will never dim the light of Christ.
Galatians 5 gives us two more imperatives. Verse 16 tells us, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Verses 22-23 tell us exactly what we display when we truly walk by the Spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” And we aren’t talking about overripe or rotting fruit; we are talking about fresh fruit—fragrant and compelling (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Who would not recognize this fruit in us as we go about our day-to-day business? Once He fills us, He furthers our testimonies so God may be glorified because of us.
Galatians 6:10 is the last passage we will highlight. “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Not only do unbelievers watch how we are with them, but they also watch how we are within the church. If we misbehave through quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder, how will that look to them? (2 Corinthians 12:20).
The book of Ephesians has some practical commands:
Ephesians 1:16: Remember others in your prayers.
Ephesians 2:10: Do good works.
Ephesians 2:14: Be at peace with God and with others.
Ephesians 3:9: Share the gospel.
Ephesians 4:1-4: Be unified in Him
Ephesians 4:15, 5:2: Speak the truth and walk in love
Ephesians 4:17, 22: Don’t act like the world or who you used to be.
Ephesians 4:25: Speak the truth.
Ephesians 4:28: Do honest work and share with others who are in need.
Ephesians 4:29, 5:4: Don’t speak corrupting things. Instead, build each other up.
Ephesians 4:31: Let go of bitterness and all its affiliate characteristics.
Ephesians 4:32: Be kind and tenderhearted toward one another. Be forgiving, remembering you too are forgiven by God because of Christ.
Ephesians 5:1: Imitate God.
Ephesians 5:3: Be pure in all aspects of your life.
Ephesians 5:11: Expose the works of darkness by shining the light of Jesus.
Ephesians goes on in the rest of chapters five and six, and reading those passages will greatly enhance your understanding of how you can live so God is glorified because of you. It’s not easy, but it’s the most fruitful and rewarding work we will ever do, because the implications are eternal. Our lives as Christians get better and better spiritually as we grow in the grace and knowledge of God. We are Christ’s representatives—image bearers, and to live is Christ (Philippians 1:21).
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